Tape dispenser



P. J. DEWYER TAPE DISPENSER Aug. 27, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 20, 1960 faz/edm", erJezq/yen l .Illa

Aug 27, 1963 P. J. DEWYER 3,101,538

' TAPE DISPENSER Filed July 2o, leso 2 sheets-sheet 2 ZZZ/efor". Pelzer Jwyer'.

United States Patent O 3,101,538 TAPE DISPENSER Peter l. Dewyer, 315 W. Rockland Road, Libertyville, Ill. Filed July 20, 1960, Ser. No. l44,ll51 '11 Claims. (Cl. 30-131) The invention relates Y generally to dispenser structures and more particularly to a dispenser structure-for tape or like strip material.

The invention is particularly suitable for the dispensation cf soft, pliable materials, as rfor example, very thin plastic pipe gasket material andthe like, which type of material is so thin and limp that it is dii-heult to cut-even with a knife or shears.

Another object of the invention is the production of such a dispenser which is 'so designed V,that it may be readily operated with one hand, enabling the yuser to readily sever the tape at any desired point without interruption. f

Another object `of the invention is the production of such la dispenser and cutter which is very simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, readily adapting itself to mol-ding processes employing plastic and the like.

A kfurther object of the invention is the production of such a dispensing structure which is provided with Vnovel cutting and hold-down mechanisms |which may be used for tapes of :all kinds, and if desired, 'may lue-provided with removable or replaceable blades Where the device is Iof la permanent character and adapted :to be relled 'with tape.

Fice

1or vpost 5, illustrated las being formed integrally with the -bottom Z and provided with a shoulder `6 adjacent its upper en-d on which the cover member -4 is seated, the reduced portion 7 .cf `the post 5 extending through an fopening 8 in the cover member. The cover member 4 is `thus supported on the post-f6 and as clearly illustratedin Many other objects and advantages of the invention herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

=In the drawings, wherein like reference characters lindicate like or corresponding-parts:

FIG. l is la perspective view ci `a tape dispenser embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is la sectional view taken approximately on the line 2-2 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view 'taken approximately on line 3-3 of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational viewytorf the cutter mechanisrn with the parts in 4the .position illustrated in FIG. `6;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view'of lthe cuttermechanism with portions olf the container broken away, `illustrating the position of the cutting elements p-rior to actuation thereof;

lFIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. '5 with the cutter elements brought into initial engagement and positioned just prior to the shearing action; and

FIG. 7 is a figure similar to lFIGS. 5 and 6 with the cutter mechanism at theend tof the cutting operation.

FIG. 8 is a ligure ofV a-portion of the bottom of the container illustrating a modified lform of tape hold-down.

In dispensing and cutting vccf very thin pliable plastic tape and the like it is essential that the cutting blades meet properly throughout the cutting action to insure a complete severance tot the thin tape which will readily pass between the blades without severance if the latter are not properly engaged.

The present invention Iaccomplishes these functions by means of an exceedingly simple, inexpensive construction wherein the movable blade is so mounted that it may readily move into the proper cutting position, guiding means being employed to insure ,proper interengagement of the blades.

Referring to the `drawings and particularly vto FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the reference numeral t1 indicates `generally a container for tape or .the like, constructed of suitable `rmaterial, as for example, plastic and comprising .a generally circular shaped bottom wall 2 and an upstanding gener- .or depth of the container and cover-member.

FIG. 3 has a slight clearance between it and the upper edge o-f the side wall 3. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3,

extending downwardly vfrom the cover rmember .4iadjacent the inner acecf the side wall 3 and concentric Vtherewith is a cylindrical flan-ge 9. Mounted lon ythe portion Tof the pos-t -5 and secured thereto -by a knurledscrew 11 is a plate 12. -ofgenerally rectangular shape which Yserves as a retaining member for the cover .4, permitting vthe latter to pivot about fthe axis'of :the screw ,-11 but preventing axial movement of the cover relative to the `post 5. As illustrated Yin FIGS. 2. and 3, the lpost 5 forms :a spindle adapted to receive tan annular roll R of strip material or the like, such rolls normally having a tubular shaped basemember B on which the strip material is coiled.

V'Extending radially outward tfrom the side -vvall -3 of the container -is a hand ,engaging projection 13, illustrated as being -formedintegrally with the container body, the width or height of thevprojec-tion 13 :as viewed in FIG. 4, being approximately equal to or slightly yhigher .than the vvidth As clearly illustrated in ,'FIG. v2, the projection 13 is provided with a blade receiving slot 14 .adapted to receive vIa relatively stationary cutting blade Y'1i-:the latter :being secured to the projection 13 vby suitable-means', las for example, ,laf-screw 16 which is threaded into Ithe side wall of l,the container and asl illustrated in FIG. 2, may extend into an elongated slot 117 -in -the cylindrical lilange 9 of the cover member, thelength of the slot 17 `determining therot-ational travel of the cover member r4 relative to the container body t1, with the screw 16 forming a lstop member ttor the cover. AThe side wall 3 of l.the container is ralsoprovided .with `a narrow -slot 18- oi a size to permit free passage of the contained stripmateal `to -the exterior of the container, the slot -18 asxill-ustrated in FIG. 2, being positionedadjacent the projection 13-and .cutter `15 Suitable `,rneans may be .provided .for holding `or retaining the tree end of the tape yextending from the opening or slot 18, which means in .the construction illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, yand 5 through 7 comprises a-btail-member indicated generally -by -the `numeral 19 having a pair of leg portions 21 vwhich iare connected by a cross or intermediateportion 22, the freeends v23 being Vinturned to oppose .one another and seated -in la bore 24 extending through the projection '13 or in oppositely extending recesses in the projection V13 Aof -a sizeto receive the inturned ends 23. The .bail 19 is stormed oi suitable wire, having some resiliency or spring action land the legs Z1 arel provided Vwith a bend adjacent the intermediate portion 22 operative to position the llatter adjacent the louter surface of the side wall 3, and it will '-be noted that .the legs Z1 are adapted to abut the outer side portions ctf the plate so that the latter 1forms a stop therefor and the inherent resiliency trated as being threaded into the cover 4. The member 26 is biased in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. l, 2 and 5 through 7 by suitable means, as for example, by a coiled spring 35 having its ends operatively connected to the member 26 and the plate 12, the connection of the spring, illustrated in `FIGS. l and 3, comprising a bore in the associated element through which a respective end of the spring 35 is hooked. The spring 35 thus performs two functions, one, urging the member 26 in a clockwise direction about the screw 34 until the projection 27 engages the side wall of the container and is thus restricted as to any further pivotal movement, and two, tends to rotate the lcover member and with it the member 26 to the extreme clockwise position of the cover member relative to the container 3, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the screw 16, as previously mentioned, acting as a stop on the flange 9 to limit further rotation of the cover member in a clockwise direction.

It will be appreciated from the above that the member 26 Iand thus the blade 25 have two distinct motions with respect to thek stationary blade Kll5, resulting motion of the blade 25 being toward and away from the blade 15 along an arcuate path, resulting from rotation of the cover 4 in a counterclockwise direction, such motion carrying with it the pivot screw 34, with the cover and member 26 moving Ias a unit. The other possible motion of the blade 25, with respect to the stationary blade 15, is that resulting from pivotal action of the member 26 about the screw 34 which would tend to move the yblade 25 in an arc to impart a radial movement to the blade 25 toward the side wall 3 'and at the same time toward the blade l5. Proper position of the blade 25 with respect to the blade 15, as the blade 25 approaches the blade 15, may be accomplished by a projection 36 formed on the blade 25, such projection being adapted to engage the blade 15 and overlie the same to accurately :align the shearing edge 37 of the blade 25 with the cooperable shearing edge 38 of the blade 15.

In use, as the projections 13 and 27 will be normally grasped between thumb and linger and urged toward one another, the initial movement of the member 26 will be with the cover 4 as the latter is moved about the screw 11, pressure on the projection 27 tending to urge it toward the projection 13, tending to rotate the cover i4 and thus produce the movement of the member 26 as described. As such squeezing action is continued, the projection 36 Will engage the blade 15, thereby guiding the cutting action of the blade 25 into operative shearing relation with respect to the cutting edge of the blade l5 and pressure on the projection 27 during such action will place pressure on the two blades to eilectively shear any strip material therebetween.

In use, the roll R of tape or strip material is inserted into the container by unscrewing the thumb screw 11, and lifting oi the cover 4 and with it the plate 12 and member 26. `Following insertion of the roll of tape R into the container, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the free end T of the tape is inserted outwardly through the slot 1S and slipped between the intermediate portion 23 of the bail 19 and the adjacent wall 3` of the container, as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The cover 4, plate 12 and scr-ew I1 are then replaced in their original positions, the screw being tightened down to lock the plate l2 in a position substantially as illustrated in FIG. l. I-f desired, the portion 7 of the post 5 may be provided with a key portion, and the opening in the plate 12 may be complementally shaped, the cooperating locking means thus formed retaining the plate 12 -in the desired'position on the post 5.

FIGS. 5 through 7 illustrate the relative positions of the cutter blades and associated elements at the various stages of normal operation. Thus it will be noted in FIG. 5 that the cover member and the member 26 are in their extreme inoperative positions, the blade 25 positioned away from the blade 15 and at the same time pivoted 4 slightly outward to provide ample linger space between the blades, whereby the extreme end of the tape may be grasped between the thumb and ringer and by exerting a pull thereon the desired length of tape is withdrawn from the container, the bail member .19 being operative to retain the tape in proper position with respect to the blade but having sufficient resiliency to permit the =tape to be readily pulled between it and the side wall of the container. As the relative movement between the projections I3 and 27 is con-tinued the elements will approach the position illustrated in FIG. 6. In this position the projection-36 has already engaged the blade 15 and has guided the blade 25 to a point just prior to the initiation of the shearing action.

FIG. 7 Iillustrates the final position ofthe elements immediately following severance of the tape end and it will be noted that throughout the shearing action the bail 19 has maintained the adjacent end of the type roll in operative position. If during the shearing operation there is any tendency of a pull being exerted on that portion of the tape at the roll side ofthe cutter blades, the bail would prevent any undesired withdrawal of the tape from the container. Likewise the bail will also provide a snubbing action during the withdrawal of the tape from the container and thus tends to prevent any overrunning action which might withdraw more tape than that desired or which might have a tendency to unreel the tape within the container.

It will be appreciated that the construction thus described provides a very eiective cutting or shearing mechanism which has proven to be exceptionally efficient in cutting extremely thin pliable tape of the type that is currently being employed as gasket material on pipe joints and the like, such tape being -so limp'that it has heretofore been extremely dilicult to cut the same as it is suiiiciently thin that, combined with its limpness, it has a tendency to pass lbetween blades without severance even though such blades may be reasonably sharp. On the other hand, with the present invention the construction is such that the action of moving the blade into its cutting position also applies pressure'between the blades to produce a very effective cutting action.

yIn some cases where it is desired to use the container for other lforms of tape, as tior example plastic adhesive tape yand the like, it may be desirable to employ a bail member which has greater spring action than that heretofore described. FIG. 8 illustrates la modiiied yform of bail which is provided with supplemental spring tensioning means. FIG. 8 illustrates a portion of the bottom of the container f3:` and employs a bail 19 which is quite similar to that illustrated in FIGS. l and 2 with the addition of an eye 39* formed by looping the material comprising the bail. The spring action is provided by a coiled tension spring `41 having one end'i42 engaged lwith the eye 39 and the opposite end engaged with an anchor post 43 carried by the container 3. Thus in this construction the bail may move slightly away from the side wall 3 to readily .release the tape supported thereby but under the action of the spring 41 will eiectiyely retain the tape end in operative position in the manner of thatl illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

While I have illustrated the blades 15 and 25 as being attached to their associated projections 13 and 27 by means of the screw 16 and la press t, if desired the blade 25 may be secured to the projection 27 by a screw or the like similar to the manner of attachment of the blade 15, in which oase both blades could be readily replaced. It will be noted that the design is such that the blades 15 and -25 tend to have a sharpening action which would maintain the blades in eiiicient operative condition.

It 'will also be noted from the above description that the dispenser illustrated may be rather simply and inexpensively manuaotured, the design readily adapting itself Afor the use of plastic or the like for the bulk of the parts.

Having thu-s described :my invention, it will be obvious that various .immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing v.from 'the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as ylimiting myself to the exact `form, construction, arrangement and combination of v.parts herein .shown vIan-d `described or uses mentioned.

What I claim las "new 'and desire "-tosecure by Letters Patent is:

'1. In a ydispenserstructure .torpliabletape and :the like, the combination of faholllowcontainer `for the ltape `to be' dispensed, said `container having a discharge opening therein, `a relativelystationary cuttercarriedaby said container and arranged ,to receive tape therefrom, a movable cutter cooperable With'said stationary cutter, said movable cutter-beingmovable"relative to the stationary cutter about a pair lof spaced substantially parallel axes, and an extension on said movable cutter constructed to engage the stationary cutter prior to operative cutting engagement of the movable cutter therewith for guiding the movable cutter into cutting position.

2. In a dispenser structure for pliable tape and the like, the combination of a hollow container for the tape to be dispensed, said'container having a 'discharge opening therein, a relatively stationary cutter carried by said container, and arranged to receive tape therefrom, a movi able cutter cooperable with said stationary cutter, means for supporting said movable cutter for movement relative to the stationary cutter along variable non-xed lines 'of travel with said movable cutter having a movement transverse to the line of cutting engagement between the cutters, an extension on said movable cutter constructed to engage 'the stationary cutter prior to operative cutting engagement lof the movable cutter therewith -for guiding the latter into cutting position, and means carried by said container, engageable with a tape end extending from said discharge opening for retaining such tape in operative position. y l

3. In a dispenser structure :for pliable tape and the like, the combination of a hollow container for the tape to be dispensed, said container having a discharge cpening therein, a relatively stationary cutter carried by said container rand arranged lto receive tape therefrom, a movable cutter cooperable with said stationary cutter, means for supporting said movable cutter for compound movement whereby it is not conlined to a iixed predetermined line of travel relative to said stationary cutter, an extension on said movable cutter extending outwardly beyond the cutting edge :thereof and constructed to engage the stationary cutter prior to operative cutting engagement of the cutting edge of the movable cutter therewith for guiding the latter into cutting position, 'and resilient means for normally retaining said movable cutter in non-cutting position. o

4. A tape Adispenser compris-ing a container structure having a bottom wall and .a side wall means, a cover member for the open end of said container structure and movable relative thereto, said container structure having a tape discharge opening in the side wall thereof, a sta- {tionary cutter blade carried by said container structure, a bail member carried by said container structure and having a tape cngageable portion extending generally parallel to tape discharge from said opening, a movable cutter member carried by said cover, a cutter blade carried `by said second cutter membercooperable with said iirst blade, a forwardly extending extension on said movable cutter blade initially operative to guide the cutting edge of said blade into shearing relationship with the cutting edge of said stationary blade upon relative movement of said blades toward `each other, and spring means for biasing the movable cutter ina retracted position relative to said stationary cutter blade.

5. A tape dispenser as defined in claim 4, wherein said bail is pivotally mounted on said container structure and resilient means operatively biasing said tape-engagable.

portion of the bail toward said container.

`6. Alape ,dispenser Acomjgufising a generally circular bottom Wall and a'cylindrical side Wall, la circular cover "ber pivotally ,carried by said cover, said ,cutter .member having aband engageablevprojection cooperable with said 'i'irst projection, |afcutter 'blade'carried by said .second projection .cooperable with said iirst blade, a forwardly extending extension on said movable cutter blade initially operative to guide the cutting edge of said bl-ade into shearing relationship with the cutting edge of said` stationary blade upon manual squeezing movement on said projections, and spring means -for biasing the movable cutter -in la retracted position relative to said stationary cutter blade. v

7. A tape dispenser as deiined in claim 6, comprising a tape-engagable bail pivotally mounted on said station-ary projection and-resilient means operatively biasing said bail toward said container.

8. A tape dispenser comprising a generally circular bottom wall 'and |a cylindrical side Wall, fa circular cover for the openv end of said container, the latter having a shouldered central post therein extending through the cover with Athe latter supported on said shoulder, a plate member engageable with said post at the exterior of said cover member, screw means removably securing said plate and cover members to said post, said cover member being movable thereon, sai-d container having a tape discharge opening in the cylindrical side Wall, a rigid bandengageable projection carried by and extending radially outward from said container at one side of said discharge opening, a stationary cutter blade carried by said projection, screw means detachably securing said blade vto the latter, a bail carried by said projection and having a tape engageable portion extending generally parallel to tape discharged from said opening and disposed at' the opposite side of said opening, .a movable cutter member pivotally carried by said cover, said cutter member lhaving a hand engageable projection cooperable with said iirst projection, a cutter blade carried by said second projection cooperable with said lirst blade, a forwardly extending extension on said movable cutter blade. initially operative to :guide the cutting yedge of said blade into shearing relationship with the cutting edge of said stationary blade upon manual squeezing movement on said projections, .and spring means operatively connecting said plate member and said movable cutter mernber for biasing the flatter in la retracted position relative to said stationary cutter blade.

9. A tape dispenser as defined in claim 8, wherein said bail is pivotally mounted on saidv rigid projection and resilient means operatively biasing saidl bail toward said container.

l0. A tape dispenser comprising a container structure, having a tape discharge opening therein, `a -rigid hand-engageable projection carried by and extending from said container at one side of said discharge opening, a stationarycutter blade carried by said projection, Ka movable cutter member carried by said container structure for pivotal movement about an axis which is transversely movable relative to said stationary cutter blade, said cutter member having a hand engageable projection cooperable with said iirst projection, a cutter blade carried by said 4second projection cooperable with said irst blade, a forwardly extending projection on said movable cutter blade initially operative during the compound movement of said blade with and about said 'axis to guide the cutting ledge of said blade intoA shearing relationship with the cutting edge of said stationary blade upon manual squeezing movement on said projections, and means for biasing the movable cutter in a retracted position relative to said stationary cutter blade. Y, l

'11. A tape `dispenser comprising a generally circular container structure having |a bottom Wal-land a cylindrical side Wall, a circular cover for the open end of said container, means `removably securing said cover' member to said `container structure, said cover member bein-g pivotvally movable thereon` about the aXis of said container structure, the latter having a tape discharge opening in the cylindrical side Wall, a stationary cutter blade car'- -ried by said container structure, .a movable cutter blade `carried by said cover for pivotal movement about an axis exten-ding panallel to but spaced from saidrst mentioned Y 8 laxis, and cooperable with said rst blade, and means 0peratively connecting said `container structure and said movable cutter member for biasing the lattery in a retnacted position relative to said stationary cutter blade.

References Cited in the le of this patent vUNITED STATES PATENTS 605,400 Crockett June 7, 189s 1,009,342 Rau Nov. 21, 1911 2,473,072 Ploui June 14, 1949 2,604,166 Turner July 22, 1952 2,889,975 Hanlon June 9, 1959 l f FOREIGN PATENTS Germany 1 Nov. 28, 1902 

1. IN A DISPENSER STRUCTURE FOR PLIABLE TAPE AND THE LIKE, THE COMBINATION OF A HOLLOW CONTAINER FOR THE TAPE TO BE DISPENSED, SAID CONTAINER HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING THEREIN, A RELATIVELY STATIONARY CUTTER CARRIED BY SAID CONTAINER AND ARRANGED TO RECEIVE TAPE THEREFROM, A MOVABLE CUTTER COOPERABLE WITH SAID STATIONARY CUTTER, SAID MOVABLE CUTTER BEING MOVABLE RELATIVE TO THE STATIONARY CUTTER ABOUT A PAIR OF SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL AXES, AND AN EXTENSION ON SAID MOVABLE CUTTER CONSTURCTED TO ENGAGE THE STATIONARY CUTTER PRIOR TO OPERATIVE CUTTING ENGAGEMENT OF THE MOVABLE CUTTER THEREWITH FOR GUIDING THE MOVABLE CUTTER INTO CUTTING POSITION. 